BOOK REVIEW - Fates Divided (Halven Rising #1) [blog tour]

Elena Rosales has busted her ass to get into a good college. She’s the
only one in her family ever to attend, and expectations are high. No pressure. But Elena’s got this
one in the bag, because she’s as dependable as the molecules she studies, as reliable as the
chemical reactions that comfort her in their predictability. Until they don’t.

Elena has always wondered why her mother abandoned her on her first birthday. It’s not until
she turns eighteen and her chemistry experiments go berserk that she learns the truth: Her mother
wasn’t human, and the Fae are willing to harm those Elena loves if she doesn’t use her power
over the elements to cure them of a deadly disease.

Derek, Elena’s brooding neighbor, isn’t the friendliest guy, but he has access to an off-hours lab
and is willing to help Elena create the antivirus. He has his own secrets to keep, and this business
Elena is mixed up in could blow his cover. But when Elena and Derek get together, more than
chemicals spark fire-and they soon discover just how complicated attraction can get when they
find themselves on the other side of the portal, fighting for survival. Lives collide, and allegiance
and love are tested, in Fates Divided.

About Jules Barnard

Before turning to storytelling, Jules earned a master’s degree in public health and spent many an
hour running statistical analysis–until she realized her favorite part of the job was writing
reports. She decided to cut out the math and add in some hot guys, and so began her career as a
novelist.
Jules is a Northern California native living on the coast with her husband and two children. She
has no impulse control around cupcakes and credits herself with the ability to read while running
on the treadmill or burning dinner.

Review: Delightful paranormal/fantasy romance that had the fun stuff of a YA, but wasn’t really one!

Well dear readers, let me tell you how much I enjoyed this novel! It starts off a smidgen slow, being that you’re not quite sure what’s going on (poor Elena is actually in the same boat), but soon things start getting somewhat explained. Though there is a touch more mystery of backstories than I think needed, I guess it was for all the dun dun DUN! dramatic type situations of discovery throughout the rest of book. I don’t think it needed so much stuff hidden, as the rest of the action was pretty good to hold it up itself. Good level of suspense and timing when you’re worried about what’s going to happen to the characters several times!

You start to like Elena, being that she makes nicely intelligent choices and decisions (at least 98% of the time). Her romance with Derek almost feels a little instatlove-ish, but you get a good feel for its solidness, so it kinda balances out. Honestly Derek is probably my favorite part of this novel. He’s not the alpha-type that I’m used to, but he is certainly loyal and protective of Elena. Fiercely so, enough that you see why certain situations paint him as a beautifully tragic hero at points. SEVERAL points which I highlighted to reread later and enjoy again ;] The more I think about him, the fonder I get!

I was annoyed at a couple of the other characters, but they either had a reason to be disliked, or as in Keen’s case, sort of grew on you. Not completely of course, poor Keen is a bit too much of a jerk for me to really like him, but I enjoyed how he developed into somewhat less of a jerk. I guess it’s a lot to expect for a long-lived fae to change over the course of a single book like that *snaps fingers*.

Speaking of the fae, I really enjoyed this author’s explanations and use of them and their magic. While I have to wonder at the way they live in different realms because it still feels a bit fuzzy, I like that there are different places setup for the story to follow through. At times their magic isn’t perfectly clear, but then, we’re looking at it from Elena and Derek’s POV really, so that makes sense. I think there was definitely enough world building to continue onto the next two books without slowing down, but not so much that they can’t add more to it. Definitely adding the rest of this trilogy to my TBR list!

My only complaint isn’t really having to do anything with the book itself, rather I didn’t get my review copy until I asked for it 4 days before I was supposed to post up a review :/ Makes this first book tour a little disappointing to have not been able to join in on time with everyone else. But that’s just something I guess I should file away for the next time I agree to one. I really am thankful for the opportunity to read this book though, so all’s well that ends well.